Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest seeks passionate Executive Director

January 19, 2022

Aanii! Boozhoo

Passionate Leader Required

The Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN), an incorporated non-profit organization, is a respected leader in language revitalization and community building in Kingston and surrounding area. KILN, incorporated in 2020, has been creating space for language learning since 2014 with the support of the urban Indigenous community, multiple partner organizations and active volunteers. The Board of Directors (BOD) is eager to hire an Executive Director (ED).

The Executive Director Role

Are you comfortable and experienced in a grassroots movement and/or organization(s), where collective action affects meaningful change?

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for KILN’s staff and volunteers, while ensuring the mission and organizational objectives of Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest are achieved in a timely fashion. The Executive Director will provide leadership, financial stewardship, and strategic direction and administration for the organization.

This role is best geared to someone who has a passion for relationship and community building, partnerships, language revitalization and leading in a good and honourable way. While there will be a lot of work involved, it will be matched by the commitment and spirit of the community of volunteers who have helped shape the organization to date.

The Ideal Candidate Will:

  • Be eager to learn about Indigenous protocols and adhere to them to the best of their ability
  • Engage effectively and be immersed in a community that is working collectivity to create
  • generational change, healthy connections, and healing opportunities through connection to
  • Indigenous languages, cultures, and the land
  • Understand, promote, and advocate for the importance of Indigenous language
  • revitalization to the urban Indigenous community
  • Create welcoming spaces for all ages to learn languages and explore new learning
  • techniques
  • Be skilled in collaboration, visioning, operational planning, and evaluation
  • Be very comfortable working independently and as a team player
  • Have experience creating goals and timelines to guide their work to completion

The RequirementsEducation

  • Undergraduate Degree or 3 Year Diploma in a related discipline such as Business or the Social Sciences or equivalent life experience

Experience

  • Minimum of one year experience in a leadership or managerial role in a complex environment
  • Demonstrated ability to manage staff and community volunteers
  • Experience working in a paid/volunteer capacity within the non-profit sector

Competencies

  • Demonstrated cultural competency focused on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit
  • Understanding of a grassroots approach to community development and experience with in-person and online engagement strategies
  • Ability to identify key issues; creatively and strategically overcome internal and external challenges or obstacles
  • Work well independently and as a team player (partners, community, volunteers)
  • Ability to lead and facilitate collaborations to reach organizational goals
  • Excellent verbal and writing skills; including communicating with various audiences, stakeholders and funders
  • A well-developed sense of diplomacy, including solid negotiation, conflict resolution, and people management skills
  • Excellent strategic planning skills
  • Experience working with technology to facilitate collaboration including the use of various software and digital tools
  • Strong organizational skills including project management and financial accountability.
  • Experience creating and balancing budgets: knowledge of management and accounting functions

Assets

  • Flexibility to work in various settings: 610 Montreal Street, and diverse environments including outdoors, with distractions, the excitement that comes with children and young people
  • Demonstrated work with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and/or urban Indigenous communities
  • Experience working in a language-based learning environment
  • Understanding of language learning strategies and methods
  • Being an Indigenous language learner or speaker

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume with at least two references. Your cover letter should outline how you and your experience will help you be a strong fit for this role and your thoughts (less than 500 words on one (1) of the following:

  • Why does language revitalization matter for Indigenous peoples, communities, and Nations?
  • What are three (3) tools you would use to build the KILN community of learners, volunteers, or partners?
  • What are four (4) key strategies/tools in building a strong grassroots movement?
  • What are three strategies you would consider implementing to manage challenges commonly associated with the organizational transition from grassroots and volunteer-run to greater organizational capacity?

Please send application packages to: kingstonindigenouslanguages@gmail.comWe appreciate all responses however only those being considered for interviews will be contacted.Application Deadline: 5 PM January 31, 2022For a complete job description, please visit www.kingstonindigenouslanguage.ca

The Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest (KILN) endeavours to create a diverse community and environment for sharing, learning, and doing in the community, and is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, and age.

As this role will support primarily Indigenous language learners and many Indigenous individuals and families in the Kingston area, we strongly encourage Indigenous applicants to apply, and those with roots in the community and/or local Traditional Territories and Nations of the Anishinaabe or Haudenosaunee Peoples.

“Saving Indigenous languages is crucial to ensure the protection of the cultural identity and dignity of Indigenous Peoples and safeguard their traditional heritage.” Professor Megan Davis, Chair of the United Nation Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

We encourage sharing with any that may be interested.

Nya:weh. Chi-miigwech. Thank you.

Donate